GENERAL

PACKING
LIST

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Over the years, what I carry in my bag has changed a lot. Most of 
that change has to do with the fact that I now carry a lot of gear 
related to blogging, but it also reflects the fact that I’ve learned a 
lot about packing since I first hit the road in 2006. And while 
many websites have packing lists, I want to combine all my 
previous posts on the subject (there are about three) into one 
updated post that reflects my current views on what people 
should pack on their trip. 

First, the short answer to what you should pack: ​take as little as 
possible​. I take only the essentials, and if I really need 
something, I buy it. It’s not that hard to find medicine, clothes, or 
an umbrella overseas. I also try to stick to the same climate 
during my trips to avoid carrying lots of different clothes. I don’t 
want to be lugging sweaters around Thailand! 

However, plans can change, and if that happens, I buy a light 

jacket. I keep it until it is a burden and then I leave it behind. The 
more I travel, the more I realize I don’t need a lot of stuff. 
Everything I own fits into one backpack. Packing light is a cliché, 
yet one that has a lot of truth to it. 

But the long answer to what you should pack? Well, on the next 
page is my suggested packing list: 

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CLOTHES 
❏ 1 dress shirt for when I go out to a respectable place in the
evening
❏ 1 pair of jeans (They may be heavy and not easily dried, but I
wear them a lot. A good alternative can be khaki pants.)
❏ 1 pair of shorts
❏ 1 bathing suit
❏ 6 t-shirts
❏ 1 long-sleeve t-shirt
❏ 1 pair of flip-flops
❏ 1 pair of sneakers
❏ 8 pairs of socks
❏ 1 pair of black dress socks
❏ 1 pair of dress shoes (heavy to carry around, but when I visit
local friends, we usually go somewhere not sneaker-friendly)
❏ 7 pairs of boxer shorts
❏ 1 towel

TOILETRIES 
❏ 1 toothbrush
❏ 1 tube of toothpaste
❏ 1 razor
❏ 1 package of dental floss
❏ 1 small bottle of shampoo
❏ 1 small bottle of shower gel
❏ Hair gel so I can keep the fro down between haircuts
❏ Comb
❏ Deodorant

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SMALL MEDICAL KIT 
❏ Band-Aids
❏ Hydrocortisone cream
❏ Antibacterial cream
❏ Eyedrops
❏ Earplugs
❏ Doctor-prescribed antibiotics
❏ Tylenol
❏ Hand sanitizer

GEAR (for those blogging, taking video, or anything else) 

❏ Laptop
❏ Nikon Camera
❏ iPhone
❏ Tripod
❏ Wireless microphones
❏ Universal power adapter

MISCELLANEOUS 
❏ A key or combination lock (everyone should have this, too!)
❏ Zip-top bags
❏ Plastic bags

Special tip:​ ​Buy a small backpack​ so you won’t be tempted to 

overpack. We subconsciously like to fill empty space, so if you have a 
big bag, you’re more likely to overpack just so you don’t waste space. 

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I’ve found that this list leaves me wanting for nothing. I’m sure 
many of you will read this and say “But what about X?” or “You 
really don’t need Y.” Well, that works for you, and this list works 
for me. Tailor your list to suit ​your​ travels. 

I write this post not because I think there is one perfect way to 
pack but to answer a recurring question about what I pack and 
why. I haven’t touched upon this subject in over three years, and 
people keep asking me “What should I pack when I go away?” 
This is my guideline and suits my “chase the summer, live in 
hostels” lifestyle. 

But the real point I want to emphasize is that you really don’t 
need a lot when you travel. Before I go on a trip, I write down a 
list of what I think I’ll need and then cut it in half. You never need 
as much as you think. 

In the end, there is never a definitive packing list. Everyone has 

different needs. My list suits my needs. It might not suit yours. 

5
HOW TO TRAVEL THE
WORLD ON $50 A DAY
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